Percent who drink beverage alcohol, by gender, 1939-1996.

----------------------------------------------------
Year         Both Sexes        Men            Women
----------------------------------------------------
1996             61              -              -
1994             65             70             61
1992             64             72             57
1990             57             64             51

1989             56             64             48
1988             63             77             56
1987             65             72             57
1985             67             72             62

1984             64             73             57
1983             65             71             58
1982             65             69             61
1981             70             75             66

1979             69             74             64
1978             71             75             64
1977             71             77             65
1976             71              -              -

1974             68             77             61
1969             64              -              -
1966             65             70             61
1964             63              -              -

1960             62              -              -
1958             55             66             45
1957             58             67             50
1956             60              -              -

1952             60             68             53
1951             59             70             46
1950             60              -              -
1949             58             66             49

1947             63             72             54
1946             67              -              -
1945             67             75             60
1939             58             70             45
----------------------------------------------------
- Data not available.  No survey conducted in
  1993 and 1995

Question:  Do you have occasion to use alcoholic
           beverages such as liquor, wine, or beer
           or are you a total abstainer?

Source: The Gallup Poll (Organization).